VINUM CELLARS PRESS RELEASE
Contact: richard@vinumcellars.com
August 16th, 2010
Vinum Cellars, Inc. a Napa based brand focused on esoteric varietals, today announces the launch of Vinum California, an affordable line of hand made traditional varietals which will include a Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Pinot Noir. In a move that has been internally referred to as a “reverse line extension” the company believes that after 14 years of building the brand it has built a solid reputation for quality and value and prides itself on delivering food-friendly wines to the marketplace. Vinum Cellars was co-founded by former UC Davis classmates Richard Bruno and Chris Condos in 1997.
Another announcement is the appointment of two Executive level sales managers; Bob Cranston brings over 20 years of wine industry experience to his new role as Executive Vice President – National Sales Manager at Vinum Cellars. A graduate of UC Berkeley, Mr. Cranston has held sales positions with Southern Wine and Spirits, Joseph Phelps Vineyards, Wirtz Beverage Group and most recently as Vice President of National Sales with Riedel Crystal of America. Mr. Cranston is a native San Franciscan, and resides in Las Vegas, Nevada.
When not working Bob enjoys a variety of outdoor activities, following the St. Louis Cardinals and working with Tony LaRussa’s Animal Rescue Foundation.
The company has also hired industry veteran Susan McCarthy as Vice President, Sales Manager. Ms. McCarthy will manage 21 states covering the Central, Northeast, MidAtlantic and Colorado, her home state. With more than 16 years of experience in the industry, she will draw on her past experiences at Moet Hennessy where she was National Accounts Manager and Millennium Imports (Belvedere & Chopin Vodkas) and Franciscan Wine Estates where she held Regional Manager positions. Ms. McCarthy resides in Chicago.
With this Vinum Cellars appointment, Susan looks forward to the challenge of building a small brand and getting back to her roots of selling wine.
Vinum Cellars has a value line of wines retailing between $9.99-$11.99 nationally and marketed through distribution as “CPR” an acronym for the three wines in that portfolio: CheninVio (Chenin Blanc, Viognier blend), PETS (Petite Sirah) and a ROSE (of Cabernet). The addition of a Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Pinot Noir will allow healthy growth into their established marketplace and this new line composed of seven (7) wines will be marketed as Vinum California.
The Vinum Cellars portfolio includes a line called Veritas which is comprised of five (5) wines: White Elephant (a white blend), VIO (a Viognier), Red Dirt Red (a red blend), The Scrapper (a Cabernet Franc), and a Napa Cabernet Sauvignon.
The Vinum Cellars brand has established distribution in 40 states and 5 countries. The annual sales of Vinum Cellars wines in 2009 were about 20,000 cases. The new business plan will target growth to 100,000 cases over the next 5 years.
VINUM CELLARS PRESS RELEASE
Contact: richard@vinumcellars.com
August 16th, 2010
Vinum Cellars, Inc. a Napa based brand focused on esoteric varietals, today announces the launch of Vinum California, an affordable line of hand made traditional varietals which will include a Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Pinot Noir. In a move that has been internally referred to as a “reverse line extension” the company believes that after 14 years of building the brand it has built a solid reputation for quality and value and prides itself on delivering food-friendly wines to the marketplace. Vinum Cellars was co-founded by former UC Davis classmates Richard Bruno and Chris Condos in 1997.
Another announcement is the appointment of two Executive level sales managers; Bob Cranston brings over 20 years of wine industry experience to his new role as Executive Vice President – National Sales Manager at Vinum Cellars. A graduate of UC Berkeley, Mr. Cranston has held sales positions with Southern Wine and Spirits, Joseph Phelps Vineyards, Wirtz Beverage Group and most recently as Vice President of National Sales with Riedel Crystal of America. Mr. Cranston is a native San Franciscan, and resides in Las Vegas, Nevada.
When not working Bob enjoys a variety of outdoor activities, following the St. Louis Cardinals and working with Tony LaRussa’s Animal Rescue Foundation.
The company has also hired industry veteran Susan McCarthy as Vice President, Sales Manager. Ms. McCarthy will manage 21 states covering the Central, Northeast, MidAtlantic and Colorado, her home state. With more than 16 years of experience in the industry, she will draw on her past experiences at Moet Hennessy where she was National Accounts Manager and Millennium Imports (Belvedere & Chopin Vodkas) and Franciscan Wine Estates where she held Regional Manager positions. Ms. McCarthy resides in Chicago.
With this Vinum Cellars appointment, Susan looks forward to the challenge of building a small brand and getting back to her roots of selling wine.
Vinum Cellars has a value line of wines retailing between $9.99-$11.99 nationally and marketed through distribution as “CPR” an acronym for the three wines in that portfolio: CheninVio (Chenin Blanc, Viognier blend), PETS (Petite Sirah) and a ROSE (of Cabernet). The addition of a Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Pinot Noir will allow healthy growth into their established marketplace and this new line composed of seven (7) wines will be marketed as Vinum California.
The Vinum Cellars portfolio includes a line called Veritas which is comprised of five (5) wines: White Elephant (a white blend), VIO (a Viognier), Red Dirt Red (a red blend), The Scrapper (a Cabernet Franc), and a Napa Cabernet Sauvignon.
The Vinum Cellars brand has established distribution in 40 states and 5 countries. The annual sales of Vinum Cellars wines in 2009 were about 20,000 cases. The new business plan will target growth to 100,000 cases over the next 5 years.
Winemakers
Richard Bruno
Chris Condos
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Posted: Monday, June 22, 2009
VINUM CELLARS
2007 PETS, Petite Sirah
"Two labels stood out from the pack when the bags came off in our blind tasting, including the PETS bottling from Vinum. "Pets" is an old nickname of Petite Sirah, and the bold black- and red-lettered label states that a portion of the profits from the sale of this wine will be donated to a San Francisco SPCA animal-shelter fund."